Charlemagne was never called
Charlemagne during his lifetime. He was simply Charles. Or more officially,
Charles
I.

He was called the Great within his lifetime and
operated hand in hand with the Church. He was, in fact, appointed by
Pope Leo III.

Charles was one of the most dominant medieval figures and founder of the
Western Roman Empire that would last for more than a thousand years.

All in all, Charles governed 46 years and was engaged in more than
50 military campaigns. His physical energy seemed to be much more
impressive than his talents.

According to some historians, the
year of Charles's coronation as emperor in AD 800 marked the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire. Others would refer to the year 962 in which
Otto I was crowned emperor.

Before becoming Holy Roman Emperor, Charles
had ruled as king of the Franks from 768 -
814 and king of the Lombards 774 - 814.

Charles's father was the famous Pepin III the Short. His mother's name was
Bertha. His siblings were
Carloman and Gisela.

Charles was more or less fond of the following spouses -
Desiderata, Hildegard,
Fastrada, and
Liutgard.
This brought into play the following children: Charles,
Pepin,
Louis, Hruodrud,
Bertha, and
Gisela (by
Hildegard.) Then there were Theoderada, and
Hiltrud
(by Fastrada.)